'No govt will use Ebola as political weapon' – NCDC boss

The Director General of Nigeria's Centre for Disease Control, Dr Jide Idris, has firmly stated that no government will exploit the Ebola virus as a political weapon. Idris made this assertion during an interview on Channels TV's Politics Today, in response to misinformation circulating on social media. He categorically dismissed claims that the government might manipulate Ebola to instill fear before the 2027 elections, asserting that such a notion is false and should be ignored.

Idris emphasized that the government's primary concern is the welfare of Nigerians, not using health crises for political gain.

He urged the public to disregard false information and adhere to NCDC guidelines to safeguard against Ebola and other diseases. No government will use Ebola as a political weapon, Idris reiterated. Earlier, the NCDC confirmed one imported case from Uganda and placed 53 contacts under monitoring in Abuja. The World Health Organization had previously confirmed that Nigeria has no Ebola cases, noting that the index patient has been evacuated to Switzerland.

The WHO African Regional Director, Dr Mohamed Janabi, confirmed this in a statement posted on his verified X account, stating that Nigeria will continue monitoring 52 contacts, while Switzerland will manage the patient and follow up with her husband.